Growing up we were told to avoid whatever would hurt us:

Growing up we were told to avoid whatever would hurt us:

Anything that is hot will burn our skin and whatever is sharp can cut us deeply.  No matter what our parents said we usually forgot their words of caution and became careless, becoming the victims of injuries and at times needing medical care.

Ironically Jesus told his disciples the same thing when explaining the dichotomy of blessings:  “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.  But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.”  Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.  Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!  Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.  “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”  (Lk 6: 20, 24, 22 - 23, 26).

A warning that should be taken literally since we all learned how to be careful when being around items or conditions that could have devastating effects upon us.  The same care must also be considered when each of us is granted the ability to recognize the very spiritual adverse events that are not just commonplace, they exist to trap our unsuspecting nature of platitudes that will make sin in life appear justified.  

St. Luke uses the Sermon on the Mount in a way that praises one blessed attribute and a caution that stands accusing anyone who does not adhere to the weakness that man has when only looking at the good side of charity without seeing the other side that pride can destroy.

Receiving the praises of those who may admonish our actions of charity can tell us how God’s graces are working through our ministry.  We must, however, always be aware of the need to be humble like Christ was when he healed someone which showed his obedience to his Father.  The same submission to his authority of accepting his giftedness to us requires the same obedience as Christ was to his Father.

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many were made righteous.”  By his obedience unto death, Jesus accomplished the substitution of the suffering Servant, who “makes himself an offering for sin,” when “he bore the the sin of many,” and who “shall make many to be counted  righteous,” for he shall bear their iniquities.”  Jesus atoned for our faults and made satisfaction for our sins to the Father.  (CCC 615).

“Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?”  To the young man who asked this question, Jesus answers first by invoking the necessity to recognize God as the “One there is who is good,” as the supreme Good and the source of all good.  Then Jesus tells him: “If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”  And he cites for his questioner the precepts that concern love of neighbor:  “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.”  Finally Jesus sums up these commandments positively:  “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  (CCC 2052).

Ralph B. Hathaway